What do you want in a president?
“Everyone who is not successful is a huge loser and a creep,” President Donald Trump said after his inauguration this morning.
Can you imagine Jan. 20, 2017? Can you hear The Donald uttering those words after placing his hand on the Holy Bible and taking the sacred oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution?
I can. Quite frankly, I hope it doesn’t happen, but I remain unconvinced he will lose.
Still, I think The Donald has tapped into the rampant anger Americans feel toward the political class in the country. Good for him. He’s a marketer waging a campaign and it’s sort of working. Whatever.
For the serious folks paying attention to the race, I’d like to examine what a real candidate might say to get your attention and bring to his/her fold.
Would that candidate talk about gun control? Taxes? More health care? Trade? Foreign affairs?
I listened to Sen. Marco Rubio’s recent interview with Glenn Beck on my evening walk tonight. Sen. Rubio, a little hawkish for my taste, discussed an app that connects homeowners with repairmen. He touted how the app, and others like it in the burgeoning sharing economy, give consumers more control and allow instant feedback that powers the free market.
It was impressive. He discussed how the progressives will continue standing in the way of human progress by creating rules and regulations the hamper private interactions and the exchange of goods and services.
That caught my attention.
Am I sold on Rubio? Hardly.
He’s a huge advocate for government handouts, at least to the programs he likes. Specifically, he really, really loves sugar subsidies. I really, really don’t.
I will admit that Socialist Bernie Sanders caught my attention the other day when he slammed militarized police forces. I couldn’t believe I agreed with a socialist for a minute there.
But this isn’t a discussion about policy, per se. Rhetoric reflects policy, but candidates are all talk right now. So what might capture your attention in a debate, campaign ad or interview? What would break through the noise and help you favor one candidate over another?
For me, the right candidate might say something like this:
We are going to address the national debt in a smart, sensible way. I will cut useless government departments and programs, starting with the Department of Education and TSA. I won’t give handouts to big businesses, including my campaign donors, even if I really, really like them. I will cut taxes and spending. I will bring Edward Snowden home and give him a Medal of Honor for having the courage to speak out. I will cut the federal workforce by 10 percent my first term. Most importantly, I will leave you and your family alone. I will let you determine your future by learning from your mistakes. I will defend your rights to free speech, firearms and protect you from unreasonable search and seizure.
I will also expel Donald Trump from the country.
I’m kidding about that last line. Maybe. Anyway, I’m curious what you’d like to hear a candidate say in the next debate.
